This November we’ve been celebrating the art of connecting and connection. All with the AMARAs, Vuma Fm103 and Sunday Times’ latest supplements, here at Times Media we like to connect people to the right people through world-class communication and media.

The annual AMARAs pay tribute to those behind the scenes.

On the 15th of November, The Times Media Annual Recruitment Awards (AMARA’s) gave tribute to the vital role that human resource management has in building business in South Africa.

Trevor Ormerod concluded that “It is through the talented human beings and recruitment professionals in South Africa that we are able to grow and strengthen the economy. The human resource departments and recruitment industry is one that is highly underrated yet forms the backbone upon which each organisation rests”
The AMARAs were introduced 5 years ago and this year there were six categories awarded.

Heleen Lottering, MD of Ayanda Mbanga Communications received the prestigious Times Media’s Publisher’s Award for her diligent and passionate work ethic as recognized by her peers.

Also among those awarded were the Strategy Recruitment Agency for Best recruitment Advertising Agency, Rand Water and SA Homeloans were awarded Best Internal Recruitment team while Human Communications won Best Newsprint Creative Award.

The awards were judged by a panel of experts in their industry. Among the judges were Mann of Gateway Business Consultants, Johanna McDowell and Nikki Munsie of IAS, Elijah Litheko and Welile Mabaso of IPM, Alan Hosking, editor of HR Future magazine, Natalie Singer of APSO and Sifiso Tshabalala, Art Director at OFYT agency.

In the quest to refine the award methodology this year, objective surveys were introduced to determine the Best Internal HR team and the Best Advertising agency. For the Best Newsprint Advert category, an independent panel of judges shortlisted the 65 adverts submitted for 2014.The short list appeared in the Sunday Times and readers ultimately voted for the Top three in the public and private sector respectively.

We hope that all South Africans come to realize the benefits and hard work behind making businesses work for the better.

Vuma 103FM is on its way to becoming station of choice in KZN

Since November 2012, Vuma 103FM has increased its audience by 77%. For its first RAMS appearance in August 2013, 129 000 listeners were fans of the station. This year in August 2014, the RAMS reported an increase of 144, 000.

Times Media Group’s acquisition and rejuvenation of the Vuma 103FM resulted in the KZN radio station showing the highest percentage audience growth of all 38 commercial radio stations in South Africa.

A variety of factors contribute to the success of this station such as broadcasting from our very own studios in Rosebank. Both “Mr Magic” with 16 years of radio experience and Grant Shakoane broadcast from Rosebank. According to the programming specialist, Ferdinand Mabalane, “this makes the Vuma brand accessible even outside its geographical location”.

During the October Transport Month taxi rank campaign, Sharp M’draaseni   to acknowledge good driver behaviour on the road, the station received over 5000 SMS’s in 4 weeks.  As well as the current on-air Birthday Competition where listeners stand a chance to win daily prizes to an overall value of over R150 000, these are only a few of Vuma 103FM’s initiatives to develop audience reach and cement listenership.

The station also attributes its success to an aggressive marketing strategy that covers both on and off-air promotions, brand exposure, and competitions such as the Live Wedding, which took place in September.

We’re excited to see the growth of this station and the hundreds of South Africans it reaches daily. So keep tuning in!

Look out for The Sunday Times special summer-specific supplements and book your space now!

Times Media are proud to present this summer with The Festive Leisure Guide, Renew – A New Year, A New You  and How to Invest It supplements.

We’ll be covering all the best topics related to arts, culture, markets, festivals, Health and Fitness trends and tips on how to make you the best you there is.

The Sunday Times is also excited to offer a special Financial Mail supplement dealing with the how, what, when, where and why of successful investments. Our How to Invest It feature will give you all the tips you need for educated financial decisions over the festive season.

The features will focus on;

  • What to do when you start investing in your 20s.
  • What should your portfolio look like by your 50s
  • What are the alternatives to simply having your money in savings account
  • Investing in Shares
  • Exchange Traded Funds
  • How to start trading on the JSE
  • Investing in Land & Property
  • If your house is your most important investment: what works and what does not
  • Investing in Unit Trusts
  • Insurance
  • Private Equity & Hedge Funds
  • What to do with your first R1000, R10 000 and R100 000
  • Great investment options and how they have performed
  • The art of Investing in Art & Antiques
  • Stamps and Coins
  • The dos and donts of Investing
  • The biggest investment mistakes you can make.
  • Investing in yourself

Be part of the summer sizzle – book your space now

Contact:
Debbie Montanari
Tel: 011 280 3538
E-mail: montanarid@tisoblackstar.co.za

Booking deadline: 28 November 2014
Material deadline: 3 December 2014